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Artwork for WW2: Both Sides of The Wire

WW2: Both Sides of The Wire

Prof. Matthias Strohn & Jesse Alexander
World War II
Germany
Soviet Union
Japan
Eastern Front
Allied Forces
Canada
Nazi Germany
Prisoners Of War
German Army
United States
China
Second World War
Battle Of Stalingrad
Norway
Stalingrad
Berlin, Germany
Operation Dragoon
Siege Of Leningrad
Hitler

World War 2: Both Sides of the Wire is the podcast that takes you beyond the familiar and dives deep into the untold stories and surprising truths of the Second World War from the Allied and Axis perspectives. Join us as we lift the lid on one of the most pivotal periods in human history, busting myths and unraveling the complexities of a conflict that still shapes our world today. Host: Prof. Mat... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes118Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for WW2: Both Sides of The Wire

Latest Episodes

In today’s episode, we’ll return to our beloved theme of mythbusting – this time we’ll tackle the ideas around Soviet war planning and alleged aggressive intentions towards Germany in 1941.

Our first book INFERNO is out now! Available in Hardcover, ... more

YouTube

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about the Free French – which, it turns out, involves more than just De Gaulle’s famous speeches.

James Taub is a historian specialising in French and US military history, and a regular guest on our sister pod... more

YouTube

In today’s episode, we’ll continue the story of Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz and the discussion about his politics and time as last President of the German Reich.

INFERNO is available now.Hardcover or eBook available on Amazon: www.amazon.co.u... more

YouTube

In today’s episode, we’ll get better acquainted with one of the war’s most important commanders – Grand Admiral and short-lived President of the German Reich Karl Doenitz. His is a story of U-boats, the Nazi Party, and the Nuremberg trials.

Join our... more

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Recent Guests

James Taub
Historian who specializes in French and US military history
Not specified in transcript
Episode: Episode 115: The Free French: Resistance, Rivalries & Liberation
Gareth Edwards
Host of Untitled History Podcast, writer
Untitled History Podcast
Episode: Episode Bonus: The 1913 Redl Spy Case
Paul Woodage
Host of the WW2 TV channel on YouTube; battlefield guide in Normandy
WW2 TV (YouTube channel)
Episode: Episode 86: Normandy’s Forgotten Battle with Paul Woodadge
Dan Hill
Expert on the First World War and guest on the podcast
Not So Quiet on the Western Front
Episode: Episode 79: Operation Anthropoid: The Attack Plan on Reinhard Heydrich

Hosts

Jesse Alexander
Public historian and host with a focus on WW2 history; often presents alongside the co-host from Battle Guide channels; widely engaged in both academic and public-history spheres.
Matthias Strohn
German officer, professor of military studies, and author; co-host with a strong emphasis on strategic analysis and critical examination of myths.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 953 ratings
  • Great myth busting

    This is a brilliant series. Jesse and Matthias know their subject inside out, but it never feels like a lecture. They question the familiar stories, explain why decisions were made and aren’t afraid to disagree. They are also very funny, which makes the more detailed episodes a pleasure to listen to. I’ve learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pippadidoodah
    United Kingdom21 days ago
  • great, factual listening

    love listening to these two with their differing perspectives. Especially likes the series on the end of WWII and the fall of Berlin’s. A nice pace, interesting facts and a nice bit of (flagged) opinion

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Luddite60
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Catching up

    I am a late comer to this excellent podcast and am working through the back catalogue. Just listened to the U-Boat episode from 2024. This was a thoroughly enjoyable run through that also captures the cost in lives and suffering for submariners and their victims. Looking forward to the episode on the Merchant Marine, an overlooked group who served with courage and endurance.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Argyletraveller2
    Australia2 months ago
  • Magnificent!

    As a World War II history tragic, this podcast is indispensable. The commentary is very easy to follow. The presenters really know their stuff. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dmg62tas
    Australia2 months ago
  • Yep

    You do exactly what your intro says. Thank you for our continuing education. BTW… I grew up on a military base outside of Stuttgart Germany. Because of the location, I was taught the southern dialect. Northern Germans make fun of my accent all the time. I just say, “Mox Nix!”

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J Clam
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The hosts' balanced, rigorous approach stands out in WW2 coverage.
Excellent depth and myth-busting clarity; highly informative for history lovers.
Long-form episodes may be challenging for casual listeners but rewarding for deep learners.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#176
United States/History
Spotify
#43
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#82
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#155
Canada/History
Spotify
#50
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#91
Australia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 111: Listeners' Q&As – From Brazil's Navy to Soviet Manpower
Q: How did the Brazilian Expeditionary Force perform, and what challenges did they face before and after deployment?
The BEF faced significant initial hurdles, including poor training, lack of equipment, and inadequate staging, which turned into a national embarrassment in Brazil. After retraining and after joining the US Fifth Army in Italy, they performed well in the final stages, notably in the Gothic Line where they helped encircle German remnants. Their experience highlights how logistical and training issues can delay readiness but culminate in meaningful contributions to the war effort.
Episode 111: Listeners' Q&As – From Brazil's Navy to Soviet Manpower
Q: What was the extent of the Soviet manpower pool, and did it run out during the war?
The Soviets certainly did not have an inexhaustible pool; they faced severe casualties, and factors like civil war-era demographic losses and early 1930s famines reduced the pool. Yet they benefited from a much larger overall population and, crucially, could mobilize massively over time, aided by large-scale female participation in medical and support roles and by conscripting populations in liberated territories. They also faced constraints like worker use in gulags and the impact of German slave labor on German manpower, which indirectly affected Soviet needs and strategies.
Episode 100: Hitler’s Orders, His Generals and Neutral Portugal
Q: Were German commanders genuinely constrained by Hitler, or did they often agree with his strategic direction?
The relationship evolved: initially Hitler delegated operations, but as the war dragged on he increasingly intervened, sometimes micromanaging; yet on the tactical level some commanders retained freedom, suggesting a complex, not purely constrained dynamic.
Episode 81: Operation Anthropoid - The Escape & The Betrayal
Q: Is the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich worth the cost in terms of human lives and suffering?
The hosts debated the justification of the assassination, weighing the immediate tactical success against the long-term consequences for the Czech population and the moral implications of the high human cost involved.
Episode 53: Listeners’ Q&As – From Jet Fighters to Rommel’s Missed Opportunity
Q: Why do German military leaders seem to bear more visible scars compared to their Allied counterparts?
German generals often engaged more closely in combat due to their leadership culture, which favored front-line presence, and some historically had rites of passage involving facial scars associated with student fraternity traditions, leading to a perception of higher prominence of scars in imagery related to German military figures.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About WW2: Both Sides of The Wire

What is WW2: Both Sides of The Wire about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show offers rigorous, dual-perspective World War II analysis, consistently unpacking myths and re-examining familiar events from both Allied and Axis viewpoints. Episodes span campaigns from North Africa to Berlin, with a penchant for operational detail, causes-and-effects reasoning, and thoughtful discussions about leadership, logistics, propaganda, and the human dimension of war. The hosts' interplay—grounded scholarship from a public historian and strategic curiosity from a professional military scholar—helps listeners see contested narratives in a nuanced light. A standout is the sustained commitment to debunking clichés while connecting battlefield outcomes to broader political and social contexts, enhanced by occasional on-site e... more

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Which podcasts are similar to WW2: Both Sides of The Wire?

These podcasts share a similar audience with WW2: Both Sides of The Wire:

1. WW1: Not So Quiet On The Western Front!
2. The WW2 Podcast
3. WW2 Stories & Real War Stories
4. History of the Second World War
5. The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War

How many episodes of WW2: Both Sides of The Wire are there?

WW2: Both Sides of The Wire launched 2 years ago and published 118 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Recent guests on WW2: Both Sides of The Wire include:

1. James Taub
2. Gareth Edwards
3. Paul Woodage
4. Dan Hill

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